 |
| The BEST of Winter in the Canadian Rockies |
Read this guide AND make sure you don't miss anything:
 |
| Winter is AWESOME when you know where to go |
I also recommend saving this post (Pinterest is your friend here) so you can find it again next winter, because I plan to add to it anytime I discover something new and awesome.
This guide has been updated for winter 2024-25
1. Attend the Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise at the end of January
2. Attend Fun Family-Friendly Events at Snow Days in Banff in January / February
The Best of Winter in the Canadian Rockies
Festivals
1. Attend the Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise at the end of January
2. Attend Fun Family-Friendly Events at Snow Days in Banff in January / February
3. Visit the Banff Gondola for Night Rise, a celebration of winter on top of Sulphur Mt
 |
| Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise |
Ice Adventures
2. Experience Wild Mountain Lake Skating (The real deal, not groomed or cleared)
 |
| Skating on Johnson Lake in Banff (usually in condition by mid-November) |
3. Plan a Trip to Invermere, BC, to Skate The World's Longest Skating Trail on Lake Windermere
with over 30 kilometres of ice cleared for skating
Read: Winter Guide to the Columbia Valley (Golden, Radium Hot Springs, Invermere, and beyond)
4. Hike a Frozen Canyon or Visit a Frozen Waterfall in Kananaskis or Banff
 |
| Frozen waterfalls are a magical discovery! |
5. Head North to Jasper National Park to Hike Frozen Maligne Canyon
- Closed this winter following the forest fires of 2024.
6. Try Ice Climbing as a family!
 |
| Family ice climbing (the real deal!) |
Winter Hiking, Snowshoeing, and Snowy Fun
1. Make a Snow Fort, Tunnel, or Quinzee (think igloo or snow house)
2. Discover how much Fun Winter Hiking is! Check out my winter hiking guide here.)
And Read: 10 Winter Walks and Hikes to Enjoy with your Family in Kananaskis
3. Go Snowshoeing in Kananaskis (Check out my Family Snowshoeing Super Guide)
4. Explore the Trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis
 |
| Winter hiking is a BLAST with kids! |
3. Go Snowshoeing in Kananaskis (Check out my Family Snowshoeing Super Guide)
4. Explore the Trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis
Read: Winter Adventures in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park5. Go Sledding at the Canmore Nordic Centre (The sledding hill is free!)
6. Visit one of the local Ski Resort Tube Parks in or near Calgary
Read: Family Tube Park Review (Calgary, Kananaskis, Banff, and Lake Louise)
 |
| The Canmore Nordic Centre has the BEST Sledding Hill (and it's free) |
Cross-country Skiing
1. Learn to Cross Country Ski at the Canmore Nordic Centre
2. Discover the Best Cross-Country Ski Tails near Calgary in Kananaskis or Banff
Read: Discover the BEST Cross Country Ski Trails near Calgary this Winter
Read: Family Cross Country Ski Trips - our favourite destinations near Calgary
Read: The Best Beginner Cross-country Ski Trails near Calgary
Read: Ten Reasons to Try Cross-country Skiing with your Family
Read: The Best Early Season Trails for Cross-country Skiing near Calgary
 |
| Blueberry Hill Lookout, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park |
3. Try Backcountry Ski Touring as a Family (Featured: Chester Lake, Kananaskis)
4. Find a Snowshoe Trail - And go SKIING (Featured: Boom Lake Trail, Banff)
5. Go Ski Touring in Banff National Park (Featured: Paradise Valley and Ross Lake)
6. Ski out your Cabin Door at Baker Creek Mountain Resort in Banff
4. Find a Snowshoe Trail - And go SKIING (Featured: Boom Lake Trail, Banff)
5. Go Ski Touring in Banff National Park (Featured: Paradise Valley and Ross Lake)
 |
| Cross-country ski touring in Paradise Valley at Lake Louise |
6. Ski out your Cabin Door at Baker Creek Mountain Resort in Banff
7. Visit Lake Louise for an affordable cross-country ski weekend
Read: Cross-Country Skiing a Lake Louise: Where to Ski and Stay this Winter
Read: Bed and Breakfast Cross-Country Ski Getaway at Lake Louise
 |
| Cross-country skiing on Lake Louise |
8. Plan a cross country ski getaway to Radium Hot Springs in BC
Read: Plan a Cross-Country Ski Getaway to Radium Hot Springs
9. Plan a ski weekend to Fairmont Hot Springs in BC
Read: Hot Springs and Cross Country Skiing - the Ultimate Winter Getaway
And connect with other skiers here: Cross Country Skiing YYC on Facebook.
 |
| Nipika Mountain Resort is backcountry paradise for a ski weekend |
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
1. Spend a Day on the Ski Slopes at Calgary's Closest Mountain, Nakiska Ski Area in Kananaskis
2. Spend the day skiing or tubing at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary
 |
| Skiing close to home at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park |
3. Ski Sunshine Village AND stay overnight!
4. Discover why families love skiing at Lake Louise
5. Visit Mt Norquay for a day of skiing and tubing!
 |
| Spring Skiing at Sunshine Village in Banff |
6. Plan a Family Downhill Ski Weekend at Fernie Alpine Resort
7. Go Ski Tripping across the Columbia Valley in BC
Read: 5 Reasons for Families to Love Fernie Alpine Resort
Read: The Key to Successful Family Ski Weekends at Fernie Alpine Resort
Read: Top 5 Things to do with your Family in Fernie this Winter
 |
| Epic ski weekends start at Fernie Alpine Resort |
7. Go Ski Tripping across the Columbia Valley in BC
Read: Panorama Mountain Resort (much more than downhill skiing)
Read: Find it ALL at Panorama Mountain Resort
Read: Magic Carpet to Monster at Panorama Mountain Resort
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
Kicking Horse Resort
Read: 5 Reasons to Visit Golden, BC this Winter (Kicking Horse Resort)
 |
| Ski Days at Panorama Mountain Resort are magical! |
8. Travel North to Ski Marmot Basin Resort in Jasper National Park
9. Travel South to Ski Castle Mountain Resort
10. Travel West to Ski Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Read: Family Ski Guide to Revelstoke Mountain Resort
 |
| Extreme skiing starts at Castle Mountain Resort in Southern Alberta |
Backcountry and Wilderness Adventures
 |
| Winter Backcountry Cabin Camping is a very cool experience! |
 |
| Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge, Kananaskis |
3. Spend a weekend on the Remote Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper
4. Spend a Weekend at Hilda Creek on the Icefields Parkway
5. Discover solitude at the HI Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel in Banff
 |
| The HI Hilda Creek Wilderness Hostel in Banff National Park |
 |
| Sundance Lodge, Banff National Park |
 |
| Gorgeous Shadow Lake in Banff National Park |
Fat Biking
2. Try Fat Biking at Kananaskis Village
Fat Biking at Nipika Mountain Resort
Explore Alberta's Provincial Parks
 |
| Fat Biking at Nipika Mountain Resort |
1. Discover Why Calgarians love day trips to Kananaskis Village
2. Enjoy the BEST Family Winter Fun in Cypress Hills Provincial Park
 |
| Cypress Hills Luge Track in Southern Alberta |
Winter Road Trips
1. Explore the Northern Canadian Rockies on a Winter Road Trip! North to Jasper National Park
2. Discover Yoho National Park and Magical Emerald Lake in Winter
3. Travel South to experience Winter in Waterton Lakes National Park in winter
4. Go Ski Tripping through the BC Kootenay Rockies and discover the best of the Columbia Valley in winter
5. Hot springs, wildlife, and hiking - Discover the best of winter in Radium Hot Springs, BC
 |
| Exploring the Natural Bridge near Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park |
No comments:
Post a Comment